Ridge won’t challenge Specter for Pa. Senate seat
Former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge says he’s not going to challenge Sen. Arlen Specter next year.
Former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge will not run for U.S. Senate in 2010.
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“After careful consideration and many conversations with friends and family and the leadership of my party, I have decided not to seek the Republican nomination for Senate,” Ridge said in a statement, adding later, “The 2010 race has significant implications for my party, and that required thoughtful reflection. All of the above made my decision a difficult and deeply personal conclusion to reach. … To those who believe that the Republican Party is facing challenges; they are right. To those who believe the Democratic Party is without its own difficulties, they are wrong. No one party has a monopoly on all of the answers. … And so my desire and intention is to help my party craft solutions that both sides of the aisle can embrace.”
Ridge is a moderate Republican who was the nation’s first homeland security chief. He said in a statement Thursday that his party is facing challenges and he will work with the GOP, but he will not seek the nomination.
A Quinnipiac University poll this week showed Specter and Ridge running about even in a hypothetical general-election race. Party officials have said he was considering a run. Former Republican Rep. Pat Toomey has announced his candidacy for the Senate.
Specter recently split with the Republican Party after four decades to become a Democrat.
Earlier Thursday, Democratic Rep. Joe Sestak says he’s considering running.
Former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge says he’s not going to challenge Sen. Arlen Specter next year.
Ridge is a moderate Republican who was the nation’s first homeland security chief. He said in a statement Thursday that his party is facing challenges and he will work with the GOP, but he will not seek the nomination.
A Quinnipiac University poll this week showed Specter and Ridge running about even in a hypothetical general-election race. Party officials have said he was considering a run. Former Republican Rep. Pat Toomey has announced his candidacy for the Senate.
Specter recently split with the Republican Party after four decades to become a Democrat.
Earlier Thursday, Democratic Rep. Joe Sestak says he’s considering running.
From AP and NBC
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/ar
chive/2009/05/07/1925437.aspx
Michelle:
http://michellemalkin.com/2009/05/07
/tom-ridge-wont-run-against-toomey/
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